Skip to main content
PMC home page
Journal of Clinical Microbiology logoLink to Journal of Clinical Microbiology
. 1981 Aug;14(2):195–200. doi: 10.1128/jcm.14.2.195-200.1981

Comparison of methods for identifying Staphylococcus and Micrococcus spp.

B A Gunn, F L Singleton, E R Peele, R R Colwell, J K Keiser, C O Kapper
PMCID: PMC271933  PMID: 7024307

Abstract

Three methods employed to distinguish staphylococci from micrococci were compared, using clinical and environmental strains. When these methods are used, misinterpretation of results, as well as erratic results, may occur, and suggestions for eliminating these problems are provided. The most sensitive test that combines ease of use and speed in obtaining results for distinguishing the two genera is the lysostaphin susceptibility test. Two other tests, facultatively anaerobic growth in semisolid thioglycolate agar and fermentation of dextrose, may also be used to distinguish these two genera, but results are often slow in developing, are subject to technical difficulties, and may lead to incorrect assignment of certain species of staphylococci and micrococci to their proper genera.

Full text

PDF
197

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. BAIRD-PARKER A. C. THE CLASSIFICATION OF STAPHYLOCOCCI AND MICROCOCCI FROM WORLD-WIDE SOURCES. J Gen Microbiol. 1965 Mar;38:363–387. doi: 10.1099/00221287-38-3-363. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Digranes A., Oeding P. Characterization of Micrococcaceae from the urinary tract. Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand B. 1975 Aug;83(4):373–381. doi: 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1975.tb00115.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Evans J. B., Kloos W. E. Use of shake cultures in a semisolid thioglycolate medium for differentiating staphylococci from micrococci. Appl Microbiol. 1972 Feb;23(2):326–331. doi: 10.1128/am.23.2.326-331.1972. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. HUGH R., LEIFSON E. The taxonomic significance of fermentative versus oxidative metabolism of carbohydrates by various gram negative bacteria. J Bacteriol. 1953 Jul;66(1):24–26. doi: 10.1128/jb.66.1.24-26.1953. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Hovelius B., Mårdh P. A. On the diagnosis of coagulase-negative staphylococci with emphasis on Staphylococcus saprophyticus. Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand B. 1977 Dec;85B(6):427–434. doi: 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1977.tb01998.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. John J. F., Jr, Gramling P. K., O'Dell N. M. Species identification of coagulase-negative staphylococci from urinary tract isolates. J Clin Microbiol. 1978 Oct;8(4):435–437. doi: 10.1128/jcm.8.4.435-437.1978. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Klesius P. H., Schuhardt V. T. Use of lysostaphin in the isolation of highly polymerized deoxyribonucleic acid and in the taxonomy of aerobic Micrococcaceae. J Bacteriol. 1968 Mar;95(3):739–743. doi: 10.1128/jb.95.3.739-743.1968. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Kloos W. E. Natural populations of the genus Staphylococcus. Annu Rev Microbiol. 1980;34:559–592. doi: 10.1146/annurev.mi.34.100180.003015. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Kloos W. E., Schleifer K. H. Simplified scheme for routine identification of human Staphylococcus species. J Clin Microbiol. 1975 Jan;1(1):82–88. doi: 10.1128/jcm.1.1.82-88.1975. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Moller J. K., Christiansen C., Mortensen N. DNA base composition of coagulase-negative staphylococci associated with urinary tract infection. Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand B Microbiol Immunol. 1973 Oct;81(5):559–562. doi: 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1973.tb02242.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Oeding P., Digranes A. Classification of coagulase-negative staphylococci in the diagnostic laboratory. Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand B. 1977 Apr;85(2):136–142. doi: 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1977.tb01687.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Schleifer K. H., Kloos W. E. A simple test system for the separation of staphylococci from micrococci. J Clin Microbiol. 1975 Mar;1(3):337–338. doi: 10.1128/jcm.1.3.337-338.1975. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Schleifer K. H., Kocur M. Classification of staphylococci based on chemical and biochemical properties. Arch Mikrobiol. 1973 Oct 4;93(1):65–85. doi: 10.1007/BF00666081. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Severance P. J., Kauffman C. A., Sheagren J. N. Rapid identification of Staphylococcus aureus by using lysostaphin sensitivity. J Clin Microbiol. 1980 Jun;11(6):724–727. doi: 10.1128/jcm.11.6.724-727.1980. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Williams D. N., Lund M. E., Blazevic D. J. Significance of urinary isolates of coagulase-negative Micrococcaceae. J Clin Microbiol. 1976 Jun;3(6):556–559. doi: 10.1128/jcm.3.6.556-559.1976. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Clinical Microbiology are provided here courtesy of American Society for Microbiology (ASM)

RESOURCES